Do I really need a brush?

Hi!

I read everything I could find on the net about straight razors, and I'm convinced: I'm buying a razor (pre-honed) and strope today!

The only thing I'm not sure is the brush... I travel A LOT, for work and for pleasure. When I work, I sometimes move every few days, so a wet brush in my luggage would not be the best.

Also, I currently use high quality shaving cream with my safety razor. The foam it makes stays there a really long time, and lubrification is much better thanany other cream i've used. And it smells good :)

So my question is, is a brush mandatory for straight shaving??


Thanks a lot, and sorry for my poor english!

No its not. If you're using a high quality cream and you're happy with it. Keep using it.

Jordan

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Originally Posted by vitriol

Hi!

I read everything I could find on the net about straight razors, and I'm convinced: I'm buying a razor (pre-honed) and strope today!

The only thing I'm not sure is the brush... I travel A LOT, for work and for pleasure. When I work, I sometimes move every few days, so a wet brush in my luggage would not be the best.

Also, I currently use high quality shaving cream with my safety razor. The foam it makes stays there a really long time, and lubrification is much better thanany other cream i've used. And it smells good :)

So my question is, is a brush mandatory for straight shaving??


Thanks a lot, and sorry for my poor english!

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It's not mandatory, but it does warm the lather, which a lot of people (myself included) like. As far as you worrying about the wet brush, a brush will usually dry in less than 12 hours, boar will do so even faster. But like the last poster said, no it is not neccesary

By High Quality Gream he does not mean edge gel. He means more like Lewis Black which is moisturizing.

My point would be though that is you look around, the greams, and soaps, and aftershaves and so on are what really make this fun. If you don't use a brush and some decent soap or cream then you are robbing yourself of a good portion of the ritual that makes this routine chore into a celebration of being a man.

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Originally Posted by The Topher

By High Quality Gream he does not mean edge gel. He means more like Lewis Black which is moisturizing.

My point would be though that is you look around, the greams, and soaps, and aftershaves and so on are what really make this fun. If you don't use a brush and some decent soap or cream then you are robbing yourself of a good portion of the ritual that makes this routine chore into a celebration of being a man.

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For me, the fun is in sharpening the razors and learning the high art of getting a good shave out of them without slicing your cheek off, not all that girly goop. ;-) Good old unscented soap and some witch hazel afterwards (and a styptic pencil now and then) are all I use.

But more to the point, a good brush helps saturate the whiskers with lather to soften them. The old manuals I've seen recommend a "rotary" movement of the brush to get it well in among the whiskers. If that really makes a difference, I doubt one could get it with just the fingers. On the other hand, if you're satisfied shaving without a brush, why spend the money?

BTW, anybody who's thinking of settling for a boar brush instead of badger, let me make a suggestion: don't! A boar brush came with a razor I bought, and it's too stiff to work up a good lather. Back to Dad's old badger brush for me!

Regards,

Crutch

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Originally Posted by The Topher

If you don't use a brush and some decent soap or cream then you are robbing yourself of a good portion of the ritual that makes this routine chore into a celebration of being a man.

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I agree with The Topher! I've used a straight razor for almost a year now, but I've not been away from home for more than a night at a time during the last year. And I've used a brush and shaving soap for almost 20 years and never have traveled with a brush. When I've been away in the past, I use the stuff in the can to make things simple. Not sure what I will do the first time I am away for any length of time now, but it's likely to be what you are proposing.

So I can understand not wanting to travel with a brush, but at home you are indeed losing part of the charm of straight razor shaving. Not to say your shave will be worse, but part of the ritual and fun, as others have said, revolve around swirling a brush in a mug filled with good shaving soap or cream. Warning, though--you may like it enough to get hooked and start traveling with it!

Dan

Well, I for one have a boar hair brush. Mostly cause it's cheap, and its the only thing I could really get nearby. I've never tried a badger brush, so I can't attest for whether or not its that much better, but damnit if I don't enjoy the boar brush.
Now of course its not necessary, but a brush makes the whole damn shave that much better, and they don't stay all that wet, just somewhat damp, which I think you could help along with a little blow drying. I haven't tried it though, so I cant attest to that personally. Someone may want to correct me here.

Wow!

Thanks for all the fast ang good replys!

So, I guess It's really pleasant to use a brush, but not mandatory.... I guess I'll have to buy one for when I'm at home, and use only the shaving cream when I'm travelling.

Maybe because I won't use the brush as often it will be even more pleasant when I do!

I have another question about brushes, dunno if I should make another thread or not... feel free to tell me if I should.

I shave about once a week, and was wondering if the brush is more important when shaving long or short beard, or it makes no difference?

Thanks again!

Others' experience is different, I guess, but I also have a cheap-ass badger brash (Vulfix bottom-of-the-line, soon to be upgraded) but since I switched from canned to brush-and-soap, I can't ever go back. I have a little tube I put my brush in when I go travelling. I dry it out with a blow-dryer. In my experience, using a brush REALLY makes a difference.

Something I didn't mention. I always travel with a brush. I have a dovo strop, travel brush, tub of Mama Bear soap in the screw top container, and a travel razor. I use these to travel all the time. SO you might want to consider a basic ugly razor with the following items.

http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vsho...9&cat=0&page=1
with whatever soap you want OR
http://www.bear-haven.com/ShaveSticks.html

http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vsho...5&cat=0&page=1

http://shop.thewellshavedgentleman.c...&productId=155
but preferably in latigo though I hear the vegan stuff works.
Or get his
http://shop.thewellshavedgentleman.c...&productId=114


and to protect the razor get
http://www.sentrysolutions.com/TufClothkew.shtml

Did I forget anything?

I've been told that shaving cream that comes in a tube (like Proraso) can be lathered using your hands. I've tried lathering soap using my hands and have not had good results.

There's nothing to travelling with a brush. I simply bring it and a small tube of shaving cream (or a tiny plastic container with a teaspoon or two of the stuff).

You can work the lather in the palm of your hand easily. But I bring a little china saucer/bowl. As for drying the brush - just rinse the thing out with water and shake it dry. This gets rid of nearly all the water in seconds. You can detect a bit of moisture in the brush, but it doesn't matter. Toss it in your travel bag or leave it out to dry on the counter. It takes no time at all.

Get a badger travel brush.


Scott

Or just get yourself a real badger. You could carry it around in one of those dog carrier cages and sedate him whenever you need a bit of his hide. Trim some off, lather up, and then re-cage him and allow the fur to grow back like some sort of angrier, smellier Chia-Pet. Make sure to water often.

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Originally Posted by The Topher

My point would be though that is you look around, the greams, and soaps, and aftershaves and so on are what really make this fun. If you don't use a brush and some decent soap or cream then you are robbing yourself of a good portion of the ritual that makes this routine chore into a celebration of being a man.

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For me the fun is in restoring, honing and using razors.
I have 1 type of cream (TOB) and 1 brush (boar). I also have only 2 alcohol based AS (because 1 is still the same bottle I got years ago)

I use brush + cream because it is easy and cheap and it works for me.

But to me, soap, brush and scuttle are pretty unimportant. I don't even have a scuttle, I just build the lather on my face with the brush.
The real fun is in shaving, not the lathering.
I really don't see the point in collecting dozens of soaps with all types of scent etc.
I also have only 1 strop: the practise strop that came with my TM heirloom, which I sold after using it a couple of times.

By the same token, while I think honing is fun, I don't tell people that they need to hone in order in order to be manly shavers.

EDIT: for traveling I use a feather, and I carry a cheap synthetic brush and a tub of TOB cream.

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Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

Or just get yourself a real badger. You could carry it around in one of those dog carrier cages and sedate him whenever you need a bit of his hide. Trim some off, lather up, and then re-cage him and allow the fur to grow back like some sort of angrier, smellier Chia-Pet. Make sure to water often.

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:roflmao Brilliant!!

Just get yourself a ziplock baggie and put your brush in it after it's air dried a bit. That will save your clothes from moisture in the suitcase, but allow you to keep your brush with you. Just take it out of the bag when you get wherever you're going so it can continue to dry out.

I have 2 creams, Body Shop and American Crew. I would rather use a soap and brush most of the time, but both creams smell really nice and work pretty well too. If I had to travel, I wouldn't mind using the creams and when your home you could savor using a brush and soap again!
A win-win situation.

You could grab a cheap synthetic brush for under $5 which will dry quickly, and give you an idea of if you want to use brushes or not.

:HJ

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Originally Posted by Bruno

But to me, soap, brush and scuttle are pretty unimportant. I don't even have a scuttle, I just build the lather on my face with the brush.
The real fun is in shaving, not the lathering.

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I couldn't agree more. I only have one cheap boar brush and a one inherited travel boar brush.

Then we differ I do have about a dozen different soaps and have tried even more

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Originally Posted by Bruno

I really don't see the point in collecting dozens of soaps with all types of scent etc.
I also have only 1 strop: the practise strop that came with my TM heirloom, which I sold after using it a couple of times.

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There are two points to the many scents.

They make the shaving time better. It becomes a more luxurious experience when the scent you are surrounded with matches your mood. Citris for a morning pick me up, Lavender to relax me from a hard day, Prorasso when getting ready for an active event, Black Cavendish for a elegant evening out. The soap just sets the mood

The other reason is my wife really loves walking into a manly and well scented bathroom, it can inspre her if you know what I mean.

Branch out there are good soaps for every taste and mood, it really helps make this an even more sensual experience. Takes the luxury to the next level if you will.

I understand you perfectly. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way for me. :cry: Otherwise I would use it by the gallon. My wife also doesn't really like the smell of aftershave, so my chances are better without it.

And I have a sensitive skin that is allergic to most soaps and perfumes.

But my main point was that you don't really 'need' x, y and z to shave.
You pretty much only need a razor and a strop. All the rest is preference and personal taste.

I must say for me the brush makes the experience even better. The suggestion of a baggie is how I would go. As for badger vs boar I have both and I prefer the badger but the boar might be a way to start...

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Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

Or just get yourself a real badger. You could carry it around in one of those dog carrier cages and sedate him whenever you need a bit of his hide. Trim some off, lather up, and then re-cage him and allow the fur to grow back like some sort of angrier, smellier Chia-Pet. Make sure to water often.

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What a great idea! Instead of a badger travel brush, a traveling Badger. The two of you can sing "Coom-by-ya" around the camp fire....



Scott

I really really enjoy the whole experience of the shave, and a very important part is the brush I use.

There is no substitute to a top quality badger brush when creating and applying lather. Takes your shave to the next level.

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Originally Posted by vitriol

So my question is, is a brush mandatory for straight shaving??

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The required possessions mandatory for straight shaving are as follows:

1. A straight razor sharp enough to cut hair
2. Hair
3. A way to scrape the razor across the hair (three or four fingers including a thumb ought to do it)

Everything else only serves to enhance the process :)

I didn't use a brush for the first few weeks that I shaved with a straight razor. Shaving has been much better for me since I bought a badger's-hair brush (not to be confused with a badger's hairbrush.)

First, an answer to your question. If you use a brushless cream you don't need a brush. I will often use a brushless cream for total convenience when I am traveling.

Will you get a better shave with the use of a brush? Possibly.
A good quality brush does three useful things for me.
It builds a rich lather with the hard shaving soaps that I prefer.
It enables the lather to be applied deeply into the hair growth thereby helping to lift the beard ready for shaving. Incidentally, the more you pay for a brush, the better it should be at doing this job.
It holds enough lathered soap to coat my face at least three times.

Finally, do you get a better brush if you pay more for it? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. But let's take a Kent BK4 as a good quality brush from a reputable supplier that would satisfy most people fully and beyond their expectations. If you want to better it by lets say 10% you will have to pay four times the price.

Hope this helps.

I certainly agree with most that it's not mandatory, but it's much nicer with a brush than without. I have an Crabtree and Evelyn badger travel brush that is excellent.

It's small, and comes with it's own ventilated screw-top container. I shake it out anfter rinsing, dry it as much as possible by sqweezing it in a towel, and slide it into the case. It drys well, and the ventilated cap makes sure it's ready for the next day. For the price, it is an excellent badger brush. I highly recommend it
Wayne

If you get by without, then the answer is no, you don't need one. My advice would be, give it a go though. They're great.

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Originally Posted by AlanII

If you get by without, then the answer is no, you don't need one. My advice would be, give it a go though. They're great.

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Well, certainly, it's your shave, so do what you will. For others who might be reading this thread with a similar question, I will add that while I really like badger brushes, I have two others that I often end up with for traveling. One is the only boar brush that I think works really well, the Omega #10048, see it here. The other is an Omega Syntex brush, like the #90075, or several similar others here.

This boar brush works well because it has a really long straight bundle of bristles, so you can use it like an egg whisk, makes lather quickly in a bowl. The Syntex brushes are really soft, springy, and great for lathering on your face after using a shave stick (or spreading cream). They also dry quickly and won't mildew, smell bad, etc. And neither is so expensive that anybody would steal them!

I have seen the Omega 10048 in Target and Wal-Mart at times.

Oh, and if the ziploc baggie solution doesn't suit you, then take your brush to your friendly neighborhood pharmacy. You can often find a pill bottle that is long enough and big around enough to hold the brush. Drill a couple of 1/8" holes near the bottom and top, and you have a ventilated brush holder. If you're a customer, the pharmacist might not even charge you for one, but they cost peanuts anyway.

Thanks everybody for all the answers!

I think I'll try for a few weeks with the cream I have and then get a brush for when I'm at home!

thanks again!

And by the way, I really like the idea of the traveling badger!